How to identify house key type

When buying house keys, especially designer house keys, the main thing you need to keep in mind is the type of key that you want to duplicate. There are many different types of house keys, don’t make the mistake of buying the wrong type. The most common types are KW1 (Kwikset), SC1 (Schlage) and WR5(Weiser).

Key blanks maybe correctly identified in one of 3 ways:

  • First, a key blank may be identified by the shape of the head of the key. The shape of the head is an invaluable aid in identifying a key blank, but it is not a guarantee of a match. See Figure: Key Type.
  • Second, a key blank may be identified by the alpha-numeric code found on the key head. See Figure: Key Type.
  • Third, all else fails, ask a local locksmith.
Figure: Key Types

Figure: Key Types

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